Smith, Warner and Bancroft sent home in disgrace as Tim Paine officially named Test captain
DISGRACED Australian Test trio Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft will be sent home from South Africa, with “significant sanctions” set to be revealed in the next 24 hours. While Darren Lehmann escapes any punishment and retains his job.
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Cricket Australia addresses media over ball tampering
Smith, Warner, Bancroft being sent home
Coach Darren Lehmann CLEARED of involvement
Sanctions to be handed down after investigation completed
CA boss James Sutherland said only three players knew of plot
Tim Paine has been officially appointed captain of Test team
Renshaw, Burns, Maxwell to play in fourth Test
DISGRACED Australian Test trio Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft will be sent home from South Africa, with “significant sanctions” set to be revealed in the next 24 hours.
Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland revealed that the captain, vice-captain and ball-tamperer Bancroft were the masterminds behind the Third test plot.
Sutherland refused to answer whether Smith will captain Australia again, if Warner would play again or whether the players “cheated”.
He also declared that coach Darren Lehmann was not involved and would coach on, refuting that he had offered his resignation.
Sutherland promised that “significant punishments” were imminent, but CA were not yet in a position to make a verdict.
LIVE: D-Day as Smith, Warner, Lehmann learn their fate
Matt Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns have been drafted into the squad for the fourth Test starting Friday, with Tim Paine set to captain the side in Johannesburg.
A nervous Sutherland hinted at lengthy bans during a press conference at his Johannesburg hotel.
“While the investigation is not yet fully complete, preliminary findings have been considered and discussed by the Cricket Australia board,’’ Sutherland said.
“The key finding is that prior knowledge of the ball-tampering incident was limited to three players – captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
“All three players who’ve been reported will leave South Africa tomorrow (Wednesday afternoon AEDT).
“Once the investigation concludes in the next 24 hours, sanctions will be announced and will go through the (CA) code of conduct process.
“In regards to the three players on report, I want to stress that we are contemplating significant sanctions in each case. These sanctions will reflect the gravity with which we view what has occurred and the damage it has done to the standing of Australian cricket.
“I fully understand the appetite for urgency, for more detail, however urgency must be balanced with due process given the serious implications for all involved.
“No other players or support staff had prior knowledge, this includes Darren Lehmann who despite inaccurate media reports has not resigned. He will continue to coach the team under his current contract.
“The players involved have officially been reported for breaching Cricket Australia’s code of conduct under Article 2.3.5. The substance of the offence can be covered by… conduct at any time that’s contrary to the spirit of the game, unbecoming of the representative, harmful to the interest of the game or brings the game into disrepute.”
The bans come off the back of an investigation conducted by senior CA officials senior legal counsel Iain Roy and two ICC integrity officers, with Sutherland revealing that they interviewed “most of the players” in Cape Town.
Roy flew to Johannesburg to meet Sutherland for a day of deliberation, which will now continue.
The press conference came just hours after the players were last sighted publicly at Johannesburg Airport, with Warner appearing detached from the rest of his teammates.
Holding a mobile phone to his ear, Warner was the last player to emerge, trailing his similarly stony-faced teammates amid reports of a rift.
It’s understood that Warner’s version of events drove a wedge between him and the quicks, including Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood.
The fast bowling duo was implicated after the Smith-Bancroft press conference, where the skipper revealed that the “leadership group” were in on it.
Sutherland revealed that a review would be conducted on the unacceptable culture that’s emerged in the Test team.
“We’ll take the opportunity to review the conduct and culture of our professional teams. This will involve consultation with relevant experts. We’ll have more to say on that in coming weeks,’’ he said.
“The clear focus will be on re-engaging with Australian cricket fans and the public, to rebuild respect and pride.”
Originally published as Smith, Warner and Bancroft sent home in disgrace as Tim Paine officially named Test captain
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